The International

Federation of Journalists (IFJ) learns with great distress that J.P. Joshi alias Pandit, a journalist missing since October 8 from his home in Nepal’s far-western district of

Kailali, may have been murdered.

According to information from the Federation

of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and the National Union of Journalists (Nepal),

both IFJ affiliates, human remains

found in a forest in the far-west of Nepal have been identified by

Joshi’s family, on the basis of documents and other belongings found nearby.

The skeletal remains have been

referred for forensic examination to a hospital in Kathmandu.

Joshi was the editor of the

far-western editions of the Nepali language daily Janadisha. He was a

member of the FNJ and also president of the Kailali chapter of the Revolutionary

Journalists’ Organisation.

The IFJ urges Nepal’s authorities to pursue every

lead in investigating Joshi’s disappearance and suspected murder.

According to the FNJ, Joshi’s

family has identified two brothers as suspects. The brothers had been named by

Joshi in a recent report for alleged involvement in illicit trade in tiger

skins. One brother is now in custody, while the other is reported to have absconded.

The FNJ believes that certain

political forces, about whom Joshi had been sharply critical in recent writings,

could be involved.

The FNJ, in association with all

other organisations representing journalists in Nepal,

organised demonstrations in Kathmandu on

November 30 and in Janakpur on December 1 to press the case for a thorough

investigation.

“The IFJ extends it solidarity to

the journalists of Nepal

in this hour of deep anguish and urges that thorough measures of security be

instituted for media workers who put themselves at risk by reporting on matters

of public interest,” IFJ Asia-Pacific

said.

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents

over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries